In commitment to enhancing inclusivity, Governor Maura Healey took affirmative action during National Disability Employment Awareness Month by signing an executive order that marks the return of the Governor’s Special Advisory Commission on Disability Policy. The newly reconstituted body seeks to amplify voices from the disabled community in guiding state-level policies and reduce systematic accessibility barriers.
"It is very important to me that people with disabilities and their families have a direct line to me and my office," Governor Healey remarked, demonstrating her administration's focus on participatory governance, as reported by mass.gov. The commission will include at least 24 appointed members, reflecting recommendations from various organizations that champion the rights and needs of people with disabilities.
Reflecting a spectrum of experience, the commission's diverse members comprise individuals with disabilities, their relatives, and committed advocates. Included among them, as per mass.gov, are representatives from the Statewide Independent Living Council alongside executives from state programs dedicated to supporting these demographics.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll spoke to the importance of dialogue, stating, "One of the most valuable parts of my job is being able to receive feedback on how people are able to access our services," as noted by mass.gov. This move comes with the hope of ensuring state agencies remain responsive and transparent to the constituents they are tasked to serve. On the ground, in the daily operational trenches, the commission aims to address and identify central concerns of individuals with disabilities, as they engage with state government.
The initial goal for this commission is to survey the current landscape and pinpoint issues faced by the disability community within state interactions. According to mass.gov, there is a shared vision to develop strategies that foster greater inclusion across state programs and services. Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, MD, MBA, emphasized, "This commission will allow us to hear first-hand from people with disabilities and their loved ones and advocates."
Massachusetts Office on Disability’s Executive Director Allan Motenko is set to chair the commission. The focus is squarely on creating an accessible environment where support mechanisms, like job assistance, assistive technologies, and mobility training, are not only available but also efficiently navigable for all who need them.
